Improvement in fire-escapes



W. N., J'. B. & W. N. CLARK, Jr.

FIRE-ESCAPES.

N.PETERS, FHOT LITHOG PH ASH NGTON D C UNITED ASTATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM N. CLARK, JAMEs B. CLARK, AND WILLIAM N. CLARK, .1moisY tCHEsTEE, CONNECTICUT.

VIMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-ESCAPES.-

Specificationforming part of Letters Patent No. 194,291, dated August21, 1877 application filed June 21, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, WILLIAM N. CLARK, JAMESB. CLARK, and WILLIAM N. CLARK, J r., of Chester, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in FireEscapes; and we do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description thereof, whereby a personskilled in the art can make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Like letters in the gures indicate the same parts.

Our invention relates to an apparatus designed for descending fromawindow, balcony,

1 or roof of a burning' building; and it has for its object theproviding of a portable apparatus which can easily be carried by atraveler with his ordinary baggage, and which can be safely used fordescending in case of emergency, or for the lowering of other persons orthings to the ground.

Our invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the devicethat will be hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure4 1 shows a side View of ourimproved apparatus.

Fig. 2 shows a view from a direction at right angles to that' shown inFig. 1. The dotted lines show a section of the parts as they wouldappear upon a vertical section through `the middle.

A is a cord or rope, extending from some higher point to the ground. Bis a slide, intended to be let down the cord with any degree of speeddesired, or to be held fast at will. The cord passes in at the top ofthis part, and then back and forth through a series of holes, in orderto create friction, in the manner of what is known as a tent-slide.77 Inthe drawing there are shown seven of these holes, through which the cordcan be made to pass; but the cord is shown as passing through only apart ot' them, as a greater or less number can be used to give theamount of friction desired. The ends of these holes are connected by achannel or groove, C, so that the cord, in passing from one to theother, shall not prol ject beyond the surface of the slide, and make itinconvenient to grasp in the hands while descending; After leaving theholes the cord passes downward through the middle of the slide and outat the lower end.- The lower` part of the-slide is split into two parts,as shown in Fig. l, at D D', and these are provided with a clamp to drawthem together, and clasp the cord with more or less pressure, as may berequired to regulate the speed of descent.

E is the handle of the clamp, which is operated by grasping it and theslide with one hand7 in such a manner as to draw them together. F is thepivot upon which the clamp turns, and Gr is a roller, which runs upon aninclined part of D and draws the two parts together. H is a ring in thebottom of the slide, for the purpose of carrying the strap I, part ofwhich is shown inthe drawing. This strap is intended to be of a suitablelength to support a person in descending, either by placing the feet inthe loop, or by passing it under the arms, or for use in any way thatmaybe found most convenient. I

The operation of our invention is as follows: The upper end of the cordis attached to some permanent part of the building., or to some heavyarticle of furniture, and the free end dropped to the ground. The footisplaced in the loop of the strap I and the ,slide grasped with bothhands, one hand embracing the han dle E of the clamp and the lower partof the slide at D. The descent is then made as slowly or as rapidly asmay be desired by exerting more or less pressure upon the handle of theclamp. The resistance caused by the clamp is such that the motion can beentirely stopped, if required. This resistance is not only that due tothe pressure of the parts D D upon the cord, but the tightening of thecord below the holes in the upper part of the slide causes a muchgreater amount of friction in them, so that very little pressure uponthe handle of the clamp is necessary to regulate the motion. s

This eect of increasing the friction in the holes can be produced alsoby drawing upon' the cord from below. In this mannerthe descent ofchildren or inanimate objects can be accomplished. A person at the lowerend of the cord can regulate the rate of descent by greater or lesstightening of the cord.

Our invention can also be used for the descent of more than one personfrom the sanne point'. One can descend, when -another can draw upthelcord with the slide attached, Apull the cord through it, and use theap'para-tusv again as before described.

Instead of the series of holes, the necessary friction may be obtainedby running the cord in a spiral groove or channel around the body of theslide; or spiral grooves may be made around the body yof the slide,between the "ends of the several holes.

Instead of a rope or cord, webbing may be used, the holes in the slidebeing made to corv respond.

What we clai'ni as our invention is#- l 1. The adjustable slide B,Inadeof one piece of wood, having a series of holes connected by thechannel C, to produce friction upon a described.

WILLIAM N. CLARK. JAS. B. CLARK. WM. N. CLARK, JR. Witnesses:

SIDNEY WATRoUs, HENRY D. SELDEN.

